North Carolina’s popular beach towns began returning to the business of recreation Saturday, after Arthur lashed the state’s coast with forceful winds and heavy rain and then churned northward without leaving a trail of significant damage.

Proving far less damaging than feared, Hurricane Arthur left tens of thousands of people without power Friday in a swipe at North Carolina’s dangerously exposed Outer Banks, then brought lousy Fourth of July beach weather to the Northeast as it veered out to sea.